Cooperation

Cooperative Reforms: The Cooperative movement in India traces its origin to the agriculture and allied sector and was evolved as a mechanism for pooling meager resources of the people with a view to providing them the advantages of economics of scale. After independence, the cooperatives were considered as part of the strategy of planned economic development. The cooperatives are today at the cross road of existence particularly in view of the fast emerging scenario of economic liberalisation and globalisation. The cooperative reforms are, therefore, vital to the future of the cooperatives.

Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002 : The Central Government has taken a lead in providing required autonomy to the cooperatives by enacting MSCS Act, 2002, replacing the MSCS Act, 1984. It aims at providing functional autonomy and democratic management to the Multi-State Cooperative Societies. Though this Act is applicable to national level cooperative societies/federations and other Multi-State Cooperative Societies, it is expected that it will work as a model Act for reforms in State Cooperative Laws.

NCDC(Amendment) Act, 2002 : NCDC Act, 1962 has been amended vide NCDC (Amendment) Act, 2002 expanding the mandate of NCDC to include foodstuff, industrial goods, livestock and services in the programmes and activities in addition to the existing programmes. The definition of agriculture produce has been amended to cover wider range of activities by including  edible and non-edible oilseeds, cattle feed, produce of horticulture and animal husbandry, forestry, poultry farming, pisiculture and other allied activities to agriculture. Vide the amended Act, definition of industrial goods and livestock have been elaborated covering the products of allied industries in the rural areas and includes any handicraft or rural craft. The livestock includes all animals to be raised for milk, meat, fleece, skin, wool and other by-products. NCDC will be able to provide loan directly to the co-operatives without State/Central Government guarantee on furnishing of security to the satisfaction of the NCDC. So far activities concerning water conservation, animal care/health, disease prevention, agricultural insurance and agricultural credit, rural sanitation/drainage/sewerage have been made notified services.

National Policy on Cooperatives:  National Policy on Cooperatives has been formulated by the Government in consultation with States/Union Territories. The objective of the National Policy is to facilitate all round development of the cooperatives in the country. Under the policy, cooperatives would be provided necessary support, encouragement and assistance, so as to ensure that they work as autonomous, self-reliant and democratically managed institutions accountable to their members and make a significant contribution to the national economy, particularly in areas which require people's participation and community efforts.

Agricultural Research Education

The Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for coordinating research and educational activities in agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries. Besides, it helps to bring about inter-departmental and inter-institutional collaboration with national and international agencies engaged in the same and allied fields. Department provides government support, service and linkage to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

ICAR has played a pivotal role in developing agricultural technologies, input material and critical scientific base leading to self-sufficiency in food.

The research set-up of ICAR comprises 52 Central Institutes, 32 National Research Centres, 12 Project Directorates and 91 All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs). For higher education in agriculture and allied fields there are four deemed to be universities, 37 State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and one Central Agricultural University at Imphal.